HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON
From the Broadway Musical "Rosalie" (1927)
(George & Ira Gershwin)
Recorded by:
Julie Andrews; Ray Anthony; Louis Armstrong; Chet Baker;
Tony Bennett; Ruby Braff; Bob Brookmeyer; Georgia Brown;
Charlie Byrd; Ray Charles; Cher; June Christy;
Rosemary Clooney; Bing Crosby; Dorothy Dandridge;
Buddy DeFranco; Roy Eldridge; Les Elgart; Duke Ellington;
Georgie Fame; Ella Fitzgerald; Connie Francis;
Judy Garland; Stan Getz; Benny Goodman; Eydie Gorme;
Buddy Greco; Benny Green; Coleman Hawkins; Dick Haymes;
Audrey Hepburn; Shirley Horn; Lena Horne; Joni James;
Stan Kenton; Peggy Lee; Jerry Lewis; Julie London;
Susannah McCorkle; Maureen McGovern; Marian McPartland;
Carmen McRae; Liza Minnelli; Van Morrison; Elaine Paige;
Oscar Peterson; John Pizzarelli; Annie Ross;
George Shearing; Dinah Shore; Carly Simon; Zoot Sims;
Mel Tormé; Sarah Vaughan; Ben Webster; Lee Wiley;
Andy Williams.
I could cry salty tears
Where have I been all these years?
Little wow, tell me now
How long has this been goin' on?
There were chills up my spine
And some thrills I can't define
Listen sweet, I repeat
How long has this been goin' on?
Oh, I feel that I could melt
Into heaven I'm hurled
I know how Columbus felt
Finding another world
Kiss me once, then once more
What a dunce I was before
What a break, for heaven's sake
How long has this been goin' on?
------ piano ------
Let me dream that it's true
Kiss me twice, then once more
That makes thrice, let's make it four
What a break, for heaven's sake
How long has this been goin' on?
****************
as rec by Ella Fitzgerald w Nelson Riddle & his Orch
Jan 5th 1959 Hollywood
'Neath the stars,
At bazaars,
Often I've had to caress men!
Five or ten
Dollars, then
I collect from all those "Yes" men!
Don't be sad,
I must add
That they meant no more than chess men!
Darling, can't you see
'Twas for charity!
Though these lips
have made slips,
It was never really serious!
Who'd have thought
I'd be brought
To a state that's so delirious!
I could cry salty tears;
Where have I been all these years?
Little wow,
Tell me now,
How long has this been goin' on?
There were chills up my spine,
And some thrills I can't define.
Listen, sweet,
I repeat,
How long has this been goin' on?
Oh, I feel that I could melt;
Into heaven I'm hurled -
I know how Columbus felt
Finding another world.
Kiss me once, then once more.
What a dunce I was before!
What a break -
For heaven's sake,
How long has this been goin' on?
Kiss me twice, once more,
Thrice, make it four!
What a break -
For heaven's sake,
How long has this been goin' on?
(Transcribed by Peter Akers - March 2011)